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A Fire, Supposed to be the Work of an Incendiary, Breaks out at 2 O'clock on Sunday Morning - Forty Business Houses Fall a Prey to the Flames - Loss Over $300,000, Insurance Aggregating $200,000.

[SPECIAL TO THE NEWS.]

GREENVILLE, August 17. - The Banner and Herald combined forces to-day and issued the following extra, giving the particulars of the great fire:

Greenville has again been visited by the demon of destruction. Already she has passed through fires, cyclones and the great hotel horror, but each time she has emerged from the sea of ruins to become more prosperous than before, but this (Sunday) morning has witnessed the crowning calamity so far as the destruction of property is concerned.

At 3 o'clock a fire broke out mysteriously in the rear of the wooden buildings occupied by J. L. Beal, grocery, and J. N. Herndon, furniture dealer, on south Stonewall street. It is uncertain which building the fire took hold on first, but it was the work of a dastardly incendiary. The wind blowing strongly from the south, the flames spread with alarming rapidity, ...

...

The little city that was so prosperous and proud but yesterday, is sorrowful today. Hopes were bright, the town was becoming solid and beautiful, and the county had recently completed a beautiful court-house. ... Today there stand black walls and ruined heaps [sic] from blasted homes, and desolation reigns where prosperity recently stood. ... It will take time, but Greenville will rise again."

The Dick Hubbard Fire Company worked nobly, but unfortunately their engine got out of order. But for this the fire could have been checked at Washington street, and the destruction would not have been half so extensive.

After the brick block was in flames the heat was so intense that the fire boys were powerless.

The following details of the losses and insurance are as accurate as it is possible to obtain at this hour, though doubtless there are some mistakes and some crude estimates:

...

Hunt county, Court-house building, $40,000; insurance, $81,000.
...

After the floor of the second story of the court-house had burned through, Mr. C. W. Collin, the tax collector, offered $100 to any one who would go into his office and get out his private papers. Mr. Phil. Roberts went in and secured them, but received a painful wound in the hand.

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Texas Death Records 1890 – 1976 [with images]Name index and images of statewide death certificates, 1890-1976. The name index has been created by FamilySearch and is tied to images of the Texas death certificates. Few certificates are available prior to 1903.